Successful Close-Out of NSFC Major Program "Generation and Manufacture Principle of Precise Minimally Invasive Surgical Instrument"

The project close-out of the major program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) "Generation and Manufacture Principle of Precise Minimally Invasive Surgical Instrument" (Project number: 51290290) was held on February 2nd, 2018 in Changsha. First, Professor Li Ming, deputy executive director of the Department of Engineering and Materials Sciences of NSFC, introduced the objective of the major program and the requirements of final completion. Second, the principle investigators of both the program and five projects delivered the project completion viva to present the scientific achievements of the program. And the scientific panel, led by Academician Ren Luquan and Academician Tan Jianrong, carefully reviewed and evaluated the program and projects' final reports and investigated the newly developed minimally invasive surgery (MIS) instruments on site. After discussion, the scientific panel reached the agreement that the major program completely achieved the objective and was rated as outstanding.

The major program was led by Professor Wang Shuxin from Tianjin University, and the research team was formed by academics from Tianjin University, Central South University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Beihang University, and Xi’an Jiaotong University. Focusing on the fundamental scientific problems in MIS instruments, the biomimetic design of the tissue/instrument contact surface, the mapping algorithm of movement and force during MIS operation, and the structure-function integrative manufacture were systematically studied. The concepts of precision and accuracy including safe contact, precise manufacture, accurate positioning, and flexible operation, were embedded in the design and manufacture of the instruments. Furthermore, novel design theories and manufacture principles for MIS instruments were thoroughly investigated through an interdisciplinary study of medicine and engineering.

A series of important scientific advances have been achieved in the five-year program. First, the formation and binding mechanisms of the sticking tissue on the active electrode of high-frequency electrotome was unveiled, and a design principle for anti-sticking active electrode was proposed. Second, the anti-adhesion mechanisms of several typical biological function surfaces were investigated, from which the directional water transport was discovered and the gradient Taylor capillary rise theory was established. A new biomimetic anti-adhesion strategy based on liquid-film/air-film separation was also proposed. Third, the mapping model for MIS operation and the coupling cable-drive theory were built, a family of structures with tunable stiffness were designed, and new deployable surgical forceps were developed based on origami of thick panel. Fourth, a multi-unit tube operator was designed based on fiber bundle “jamming” mechanism, and a tunable stiffness was realized. Fifth, a multi-dimensional comprehensive assessment system for MIS instruments was established through in-vitro models, animal models, and clinical surgeries. Finally, a set of instruments for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) was developed integrating all the newly found technologies.

During the five-year program, a total of 109 SCI indexed journal papers were published, including one in Nature, one in Science, and three cover papers in prestigious journals; 67 national invention patents were filed, among which 26 were authorized, and four international invention patents were filed; six provincial and ministerial awards were obtained; one English Monographs was published; The international journal, Biosurface and Biotribology, was founded; 28 invited keynote speeches were delivered in the international academic conferences. In addition, a number of leading academics were fostered, including one leader of the Innovative Research Groups of the NSFC, two leaders of the Innovative Teams in the key areas of the Ministry of Science and Technology, two winners of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young scholars, two winners of Excellent Young Scientists Fund, two leaders of the National high level talents special support plan; one winner of Million Talent Projects; one distinguished professor of Chang Jiang Scholars Program of the Ministry of Education, and three scholars of National Thousand-Talent Plan.